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Noles To Get Test From Wildcats' QB

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By SCOTT CARTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 3, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Still trying to forget about a regular season-ending 45-12 loss at Florida, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said he will be reminded of it every time he watches film of Kentucky, FSU's opponent in the Music City Bowl.

FSU and Kentucky formally accepted bids from the bowl late Sunday afternoon. FSU is making its 26th consecutive bowl appearance, while Kentucky will play in only the 12th bowl game in school history.

"They look too much like Florida," Bowden said. "They've got a tremendous quarterback. They score a lot of points. They look capable of beating anybody."

The quarterback Bowden alludes to is Wildcats senior Andre' Woodson, who led the Southeastern Conference in passing. Woodson threw for 3,351 yards and 36 touchdowns, entering the race for the Heisman until the Wildcats faltered late.

Woodson reminds Bowden a little of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, who accounted for 351 of Florida's 544 yards of total offense in the Gators' victory over FSU. If FSU doesn't improve defensively before trying to stop Woodson on New Year's Eve in Nashville, then it could be another long night for the Noles.

"We simply have to get better in pass defense," Bowden said Sunday, "or they'll score a million."

By kickoff, the game is expected to be a sellout full of blue-clad Kentucky fans. In last season's Music City Bowl, Kentucky knocked off another Bowden, Bobby's son Tommy and his Clemson team. Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said during his news conference Sunday that facing Bowden for the first time is an honor.

"We know this will be a very difficult game," said Brooks, who has led Kentucky to back-to-back bowl games. "They have great speed, they have tremendous athletic ability, and they have great tradition. This will be a great challenge for our football team."

For Woodson, it's an opportunity to finish his career with a second consecutive bowl victory, something the Wildcats haven't done since winning back-to-back Sugar Bowls in 1951 (Oklahoma) and 1952 (TCU).

But he doesn't expect it to be easy from what he has seen of FSU's defense on TV.

"Their defense is amazing, very strong and physical," Woodson said Sunday. "It's like playing another SEC defense."

NOTE: Bowden said he will grant sophomore WR Damon McDaniel a release from his scholarship. McDaniel, who was a teammate of Florida's Percy Harvin in high school, has played sparingly this season after leaving the team for a week to attend the birth of his son, Damon Jr., in Virginia.

Music City Bowl

FLORIDA STATE (7-5) VS. KENTUCKY (7-5)

WHEN: Dec. 31, 4 p.m.

WHERE: LP Field, Nashville, Tenn.

TV/RADIO: ESPN/WHBO, 1470 AM

TICKETS: $15 to $70; 1-888-378-6653; seminoles.com; musiccitybowl.com.

ABOUT FSU: Seminoles are making their 26th consecutive bowl appearance under Coach Bobby Bowden. Overall, FSU is 19-8-1 in bowl games under Bowden. … FSU is 1-3-1 all-time against Kentucky, last meeting a 26-24 loss in 1965. Bowden was an assistant at FSU last time Noles faced Wildcats. … FSU went 1-1 against Southeastern Conference schools this season, defeating Alabama 21-14 and losing 45-12 to Florida, the only common opponent the teams have. Kentucky lost to Gators 45-37. … This is FSU's first trip to Music City Bowl … FSU last faced an SEC team in a bowl game in 2002, losing 26-13 to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. … FSU is 2-4-1 all-time in bowl games against SEC opponents.

ABOUT KENTUCKY: Wildcats making their second consecutive trip to Music City Bowl and third overall. … Kentucky defeated Clemson last year, 28-20, as QB Andre' Woodson passed for 299 yards and three TDs. … Woodson passed for 3,351 yards and 36 TDs this season, leading the SEC in passing yards (279.2) per game. … Wildcats coach Rich Brooks is in his fifth season. He is 24-30 overall, but 15-10 the past two seasons. … Former longtime FSU assistant Jimmy Heggins is the offensive line coach on Brooks' staff. … Kentucky is 6-5 in bowl games, last season's win against Clemson its first bowl victory since a 20-19 win against Wisconsin in the 1984 Hall of Fame Bowl. … Wildcats opened this season 6-1, including a win over LSU, before stumbling to a 1-4 finish.

Reporter Scott Carter can be reached at (850) 294-3088 or scarter@tampatrib.com.

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